Thousands of football fans will be reminded that road safety is a team effort this weekend when Hawthorn takes on North Melbourne tomorrow at UTAS Stadium, with the club dedicating its final Tasmanian game of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season to promoting safer road use.
Supported by the Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC), the message will also be reinforced at community level through the Northern Tasmanian Football Association’s (NTFA) Road Safety Round, involving more than 1300 players across the region and reinforcing the importance of shared responsibility on our roads.
Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Council, Scott Tilyard, said football provided a powerful way to connect with the community.
“Sport has a unique ability to bring people together and connect with people in ways that other forms of communication often can’t,” Mr Tilyard said.
“This weekend provides an opportunity to take road safety messages directly to football fans, families and young people, using the reach of both community and elite football to start important conversations about staying safe on our roads.”
Through its support of the Tassie Hawks Cup, the Road Safety Advisory Council has worked closely with Hawthorn on road safety messaging, including player-led videos, in-game activity and match-day promotions.
This year, Hawthorn players are helping highlight the dangers of driver distraction through a series of videos, reinforcing the importance of staying focused behind the wheel.
Hawthorn CEO Ash Klein said the club was pleased to use its platform to support such an important message.
“With so many people travelling to attend the game, it’s a timely reminder that we all need to be at our best on the road,” Mr Klein said.
“Whether you’re heading to the footy or just out and about, we all have a part to play in looking out for each other every time we’re on the road.
“We’re pleased our players can help get this message out there and encourage people to think about the choices they make behind the wheel, because road safety affects everyone.”
NTFA President Peter Gutwein said local football clubs were well placed to help reinforce road safety messages within their communities.
“Every club has members who drive to training, ride bikes, walk to school or travel long distances on regional roads,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Road safety is something that affects every one of us, and this round is about encouraging people to make safe choices every time they use the road.”
Tomorrow’s match against North Melbourne will feature road safety messaging throughout the game, including on the run-through banner and interactive pre-game activities designed to get people thinking about the choices we all make on the road.
NTFA Road Safety Round matches will be played across Northern Tasmania this weekend, with individual match details available on PlayHQ.
As of Thursday 30 July, 20 people have died on Tasmania’s roads this year, compared with 28 at the same time last year. Serious injuries have also decreased, from 183 in 2025 to 150 in 2026 over the same period.
Videos:
Distraction – https://youtube.com/shorts/iYpQbXKQLRk?feature=share
Driving Pet Peeves – https://youtube.com/shorts/FY3hcp0phxA?feature=share
Road Rules True or False – https://youtube.com/shorts/VMzVuG9gz2s?feature=share
